Fastener applying implement



vMaur'ch 7, 1939. -J. F. CAVANAGH FASTENER APPLYING IMPLEMENT Filed Nov. 11I 195e 3 Sheets-Sheet. 1

u ILLLIJL March 7, A1939. 1 F, CAVANAGH 2,149,839

FASTENER APPLYING IMPLEMENT Filed-Nov. 11, 193e s sheets-sheet 2 March 7, 1939.A J. F. CAVANAGH 2,149,839

FASTENER APPLYING IMPLEMENT Filed Nov. 11, 1936 5 ShetS-Sheet 3 ya Q Pat'ented Mar. 7, 1939 PATENT OFFICE FASTENER APPLYIN G Ill/[PLELMENT v`John F. Cavanagh, Providence, R. I., assignor to Bostonl Wire Stitcher Company, Warwick, R. I.,

a corporation of Maine Application November 11,

19 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in fastener-applying devices adapted for attaching. papers and other sheets, securing tags and labels to-articles of commerce, and for use generally in fastening or stitching together various 4objects and articles.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of the type indicated for bending the legs of a fastener or staple outwardly in a plane parallel to its crossbar to forma flat pin-stitch.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type indicated for holding the worklsuspendedwhile the fastener or staple is driven therethrough and thereafter` bending the legs of the fastener outwardly at points adjacent the work to substantially aline them with the crossbar of the staple to form a ilat pin-stitch which may be removed without damage to the work.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type indicated embodying a worksupport operated automatically to move the work against the fastener-applying means to gripand hold it away vfrom. the clinching anvil while a staple is being driven through the work.

Another object of the .invention is to provide a device of the type indicated in which the worksupport and fastener-applying mechanism are operated in succession bya common means to grip and hold the work while a staple is being driven.

Still another object of the invention is to provie a device of the type indicated which is simple and compact in structure, efficient and positive in action for performing its intendedV function, and including novel features in the construction and arrangement of its elements.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred embodiment of the invention, by way of example, as illustrated byv the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a fastener-applying or stapling implement incorporating the novel features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational View of the implement illustrated in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the'forward end of the fastener-applying mechanism showing the constructon of the actuating lever for the stapledriver;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1 showing the pivotal mounting for the fastener-applying arm and staple-magazine and the relationship of certain of the parts of the device;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the fas- 1936, serial-N0. 110,364

tener-applying arm on line 5-5 of Fig. l showing the construction of the magazine for holding a supply of fasteners or staples and the pusher for advancing them in the magazine;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 5 6-6 of Fig. l showing the construction of the fastener-applying arm at its forward end and the gate for closing the end of the magazine andV forming a chute or throat through which the staples are driven; f v

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the implement showing the work suspended and gripped between the fastener-applying means and the work-support prior to the driving of a fastener; le

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. '7 showing the relationship of the parts of the device at the completion of astaple-driving operation while the work is held away from the anvil;

Fig. 9.is a View similar to Fig. 7 showing the fastener-applying mechanism moved toward the anvil to bend the legs of the fastener or staple to form ay stitch;

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view on line lll-fill of Fig. 7 showing the relationship of the fastener-applying means and work-support at the beginning of a staple-driving operation;

Fig. 1'1 is a transverse sectional View on line ll--H of Fig. 8 showing the relationship of the fastener-applying means and anvil after the fastener or staple has been driven;

Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional View on line |2I2 of Fig. l9 showing the legs of the fastener or staple bent by the anvil to form a flat stitch;

Vand Y Fig. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of the forward end of the fastener-applying mechanism showing the relationship of its parts when the Vgate is opened to permit the magazine to be loaded with a supply of staples.

In its preferred form as. herein illustrated the invention is embodied in a fastener-applying implement having stapling mechanism enclosed inv a two-part casing of suitable size and shape to t within the pocket and to be conveniently grasped in the hand. As shown in Figs. 1 and flanges or strips 8 and 9. The forward endof the casing section 3 is open and its side Walls 'l are cut away at the front to provide rectangular openings indicated at i4. 'I'he side Walls l are also cut away at the bottom to form a rearwardly-extending opening l5 with a portion of the walls and the bottom flange 9 projecting forwardly at I6. Position-ed between the side walls 'l and seated on the bottom flange 9 is a bar or strip l1 constituting an anvil, its forward end being iiared laterally and formed on its upper facewith grooves I8 which extend outwardly toward the sides of the anvil and areV shaped as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 10 of the drawings. Betwe-en the opposite grooves I8 the anvil has a rectangular recess or slot I9, see Fig. 7, the bottom wall of which is inclined upwardly from front to rear for a purpose later explained. The rearward end of the bar or anvil I'l is formed with a loop` 2|] which depends through an opening 2l between the flanges. 8 and 9 of the casing section 3. A ring-shaped finger-grip 22, preferably constructed of hard rubber or the like, is

suitably secured within the loop 2D to adapt theV operators finger to be inserted therethrough to facilitate handling and operating the implement. The anvil l1 is riveted to the end and bottom flanges 8 and 9 of the casing section 3, as indicated at 23, to secure it in position beneath the staple-applying mechanism' to be later described.

Ihe upper portions of the side walls 'l of the main section 3 of the casing 2 are'cut away obliquely at 24 and the section 4 of the casing is shaped to fit within the opening thus formed with its top and rearward anges completing the rectangular outline. In other words, the telescopic section 4 of the casing is of substantially triangular form and of narrower width than` the section 3 to provide an overlapping arrangement of the walls of the two parts. At its forward end the side walls of the casing section 4 are pivoted on the pin 5 which may be fastened in the lateral walls l of the main section 3 in any suitable manner. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the pivot-pin 5 is in the form of a hollow bolt having a head .at one end `and a tapped hole at its opposite end for receiving a screw 25 with the heads of the bolt and screw engaging the opposite side walls l of the casing section 3. The edges of the side walls of the section 4 are inclined downwardly below the pivot-pin 5 and merge into a forward' wall or flange I0 continued across the top and rear of the section to form a. comparatively rigid structure which serves as the operating lever for the implement.

As before indicated, the fastener-applying means of the implement as herein shown take the form of stapling mechanism for inserting substantially U-shaped wire staples through the work and bending their legs outwardly against the under side thereof; but it is to be understood that the mechanism of the device may be modifled to apply fasteners of different-types without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. As herein shown the stapling mechanism is carried on a pivoted member 39, termed for convenience of description the stapling arm, which is also constituted as a magazine for holding a supply of the staples. The stapling arm constituting the magazine is preferably of hollow or skeleton construction comprising an outer channel-shaped member 3|, see Fig. 5, having a flat bottom 32, upstanding sides 33, and inturned flanges 34 extending along the top of the sides. Enclosed within the channel-shaped member 3l is a correspondingly-shaped coremember V35 having its bottom secured to the bottom 32 of the member 3l as by spot welding, a vating or the like. The sides of the inner core 35 are positioned inwardly from the sides 33 of the main channel-member 3l to provide space for the legs of the staples S which are straddled across the top of the core. In this way the staple-core 35 is adapted to serve as a track or guide for' supporting a series of staples straddled thereacross in position to be successively fed to the driving means. As shown most clearly in Figs. 5 and 6, the top flanges of the inner core 35 are spaced a distance apart al-ong the greater portion of the core but at its forward end they are extended thereacross with their edges meeting to forman arched bridge 36 having its sides lying in oppositely inclined planes to adapt it to support crowned staples of the form shown in Fig. 11 Vof the drawings. The staples S as herein illustrated have opposite parallel legs l joined by an upper head or crossbar s which is arched at the center by oppositely inclined angular portions. This latter form of staple has certain important advantages as set forth in U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,052,553, dated September 1', 1936.V

The stapling arm 33 is positioned between the sides 'l oi the main casing section 3 extending longiiudinally thereof above the anvil Il. Its rearward end is pivoted on a cross-pin 3l in the form of a bolt projecting through holes in the side walls 'l of the casing section 3 and in rearward extensions 33 of the side walls 33 of the arm, the bolt being secured in position by a nut 39, see Figs. 1 and 4. At its forward end the stapling arm 3G is -provided with an upright head portion 40 in which the staple-driver and other parts of the stapling mechanism-are housed. The head 49 ls constituted by two parallel side walls cr wings 4| formed integral with the lateral walls 33 of the channel-member 3! of the arm 39 and projecting upwardly above the top of the latter, see Figs. 10 and 13. The side walls 33 of the member 3i extend forwardly beyond its bottom wall 32, the core 35 and the wings 4I, as shownr most clearly in Fig. 6,. and the extended ends are bent inwardly to form lateral guides 42 for the legs of the staples, see also Fig. 13. The opposite wings 4I have elongated slots 44 adjacent their upper endsthrough which extends a pivot-pin 45 for mounting ,a gate 46 arranged to close against the forward end of the s'tapling arm 39.

The gate 45 is of substantially box-formation comprising. a front wall 4l adapted to seat against the ends 42 of the forwardly-projected walls 33 of the channel-member 3l and having side walls 48 which straddle the sides 33 of said member.

.Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings it will be observed that the rectangularopenings Min the side walls 'l Yof the casing member 3 provide a clearance space for the sides 48 of the gate 46. The lower ends of the side walls 48 of the gate 46 have notches 49 formed therein for cooperation with, lugs 5B protruding from the side Walls 33 of the channel-member 3| to latch the gate closed. The gate 4G may be opened or closed by lifting it so that its notches 49 clear the lugs 50, and then rocking it about its pivot-pin 45, the elongated slots 44 in the wings 4l permitting the pivot-pin 4.5 to move vertically during this operation. The gate 45 is resiliently held in its closed position by a leaf-spring 5l anchored to the top of a lever 5i, to be later described, with its forward end bearing against the top of the pivot-pin 45 and engagingv in a recessed groove formed in the pin.

The spring 5I thus serves to retain'the pivot-pin against axial displacement. To facilitate the operation of opening and closing the gate 46 its side walls 48 are formed with circular protuberances 52, see Fig. 2, which may be grasped between the foreiinger and thumb, When the gate 46 is closed its forward wall 47 cooperates with the inwardly-bent ends 42 of the forwardly-projecting side walls 33 of the member 3i to form a chute or throat 53 through which the staples are driven, see Fig-6. Y

As the staples S are fed 01T from the end of the c-ore 35 they are driven down through the work by means of ra reciprocable staple-driver 60.

The staple-driver 6i) is constructed in the forml of a flat plaie or blade of suitable dimensions to adapt it to slide freely between the forward edges of the wings 4| of the stapling arm 3E) and the front wall 41 of the gate 46 and to be guided at its lateral edges by the ends 42 of the forwardlyextended and inwardly-bent side walls 33 of the stapling arm 3!! and the side walls 48 of the gate, see Figs. 9 and .1.0. The staple-driver 64 is reciprocated in the head by Vmeans of a rockable lever 6l of bifurcated form pivoted to the rearwardy end cf the stapling arm 30 between upwardlyd'irected ears 62 on the extensions 38 of the stapling arm. The lever 6I is comprised of a pair of spaced-apart rails Vtswhich abut the inner faces of the upstanding ears 62 and are pivoted thereto by a pin 64 extending between the ears.V

The rails 63 extend forwardly through notches or slots 65, see Fig. 2, in the opposite side edges of the staple-driver 6|] and the forward ends ofv the rails are curved to form hooks 66 for holding the staple-driver from displacement when the gate 46 is open. The rails 63 are held in their spaced-apart relationship by integral U-shaped anges 61, see Figs. 3 and 7, folded inwardlyrand then upwardly with their sides abutting in` ccntiguous relationship and soldered, welded or otherwise secured together to form a rigid structure. As herein illustrated the flanges 6'! are in the form of loops to provide lateral bridgeportions spaced apart longitudinally of the lever 6| and extended upwardly with the outer edges of their looped portions shaped to provide a camface 68 for a purpose to be later described.

The lever 6l is yieldingly held in normally raised position with respect to-the stapling arm 36 by the spring 5I which bears against the pivot-pin 45 to hold the gate 46 closed. As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 7, the spring 5i extends rearwardly from its curved end overlying the pivot-pin 45 with its oppositeend held under the forward inwardly-folded bridge-portion ofthe loop-shaped flanges 61. At its rearward end the spring 5I is provided with laterally-extending ears 'Hl which overlie the upper edges of the opposite rails 63 of the lever 6l to thereby hold the spring under tension. Upward movement of the lever 6l with respect to the stapling arm 3l! is limited by the engagement of the rails 63 with outwardly-bent lugs 7| on the wings 4l, see Figs. 1 and 13. The stapling arm 3!) and lever 6I carried thereon are yieldingly rocked upwardly as a unit about the pivot-pin 31 to the inoperative position illustrated in Fig. 1 by a spring 'l2 connected between an inwardly-bent lug 69 on one of theA rails 63 and a hook 13 at the forward upper end of the casing section 4. As illustrated in Fig. 7, the hook 'E3 is provided on the inwardly-bent end ofl one leg of a bifurcated bracket 'I4 which fits within the channelformed by the side walls'and connecting ange of the casing section dat its forward end,

the bracket being secured in place by a rivet 15. Upward movement of the stapling arm Bil is limited by the engagement of the upper edges of the wings 4! with a stop 'I6 bent inwardly from the lower edge of the crosspiece or web of the bracket i4.

The staples are slid forwardly on the core 35 by a follower or staple-pusher 18 to progressively feed them into position to be driven by the driver 66. As shown in Figs. 5 and 13, the staple-pusher E8 is of usual form, being preferably constructed of sheet-metal with an arched top conforming to the top of the core 35 and lateral leg portions i9 straddling the sides of the core. The staplepusher 'i8 is urged forwardly on theY core 35 by means of an elastic cord connected at one end to an upstanding ear 8l at the rear of the pusher. The cord 80 extends forwardly from the pusher i8 around a guide 82 between the wings 4| of the stapling arm 3Q and then rearwardly with its opposite end connected by a hook 1T to the pin 64 which pivotally mounts the lever 6l. The staple-pusher 13 is provided with a centrally positioned upstanding ear 83 at its forward end, see Fig. l, for engaging the staple-driver 66 to prevent the pusher from moving into the staplethroat 53 when the staples are exhausted. Laterally-extending ears 84 at the rearward end of the pusher 18, see Fig. 5, are adapted to engage the rearward edges of the wings 4I to prevent it from moving out of the magazine when the gate 46 is opened and the staple-driver released.

A staple-retainer 65 positioned above the forward end of the core35 acts to prevent the staples S from being ejected from the magazine by the of the U-shaped member 85, located at one side of.

the ear 83 on the pusher 18, is of arcuate shape to form an eccentric cam-face 81 which is adapted to engage the staples with va .clogging action to restrain them from ejection from the magazine when the gate 46 is opened. A spring B8 coiled around the pin 86 and held at one end under a finger 69 on one of the wings 4l is arranged with its opposite end engaging the crosspiece or web Sil of the retainer whereby it acts to rock the latter to wedge its cam-face 87 into engagement with the staples when the gate 46 is opened and the staple-driver 66 released. When the gate 46 is closed the staple-retainer 85 is automatically rocked to inoperative position as illustrated in Fig. 8 by the staple-driver 6D which engages the crosspiece or web 96, see also Fig. 13.

In accor-dance with the present invention a work-support 9! is provided for cooperation withl the stapling mechanism to grip and hold the work away from the anvil l1 while a staple is being vdriven therethrough. The work-support 9i is in the form of a rectangular bar of resilient material extending longitudinally of the implement below the stapling arm 39 and pivotally mounted iiush with the upper face of the anvil. The opposite or rearward end of the work-support 9| is bent upwardly in an arm 93 curved generally in an arc and terminating in a reversely curved portion 94. A leaf-spring 95 attached to the work-support 9| by a rivet 96 or other means and engaging a cross-pin 91 extending between the sides of the casing sectionfS normally tends to rock the work-support to yieldingly maintain its forward end in the recess I9 as illustrated in Fig. l.

The work-support 9| is operated in particular timed sequence with the staple-driver 60 to cause the work W to be gripped and held away from the anvil I1 before a staple S is driven. Theforward end of the work-support 9| is raised by the action of a roller 98 carried by the casing section or lever 4 and engaging the curved arm 93 of the support. The roller 98 is rotatably mounted on a stud 99 extending between the side walls of the casing section 4 and secured therein by riveting over its ends, or in any other suitable manner. The roller 98 and the arm 93 onthe work-support 9i are so arranged and related that normally the roiler is positioned above and closely adjacent the rearwardly curved portion` 94 of the arm when the casing section i is in its raised position. A second roller Ii! is similarly mounted within the casing section 4 and positioned forwardly of the roller 9B to overlie the arched flanges 31 on the lever 5I to adapt it to engage the cam-face 59 on their upper edges. The implement having now been described in detail its mode of operation will be next explained.

The operator inserts one finger through the handgrip and grasps the implement with the palm of the hand resting against the top of the casing section 4 and the thumb and fingers straddling itsV Sides. The papers or other articles Vto be attached are placed in the opening between the anvil l1 and the stapling arm 39 and pressure is then brought to bear upon the upper edge of the casing section 4 by squeezing the fingers against the bottom of the lower section 3. Under this action the casing section 4 is telescoped within ihe section 3 with a sliding action as the parts pivot on the pin 5.

As the casing section 4 is depressed the roller 99 immediately engages the curved end 94 of the arm 93 to rock the work-support 9| about its pivot 31 to raise its forward end from the position shown in Fig. l to that shown in Fig. '7 whereby to clamp the work W against the under side of the stapling arm 39. Concurrently therewith the roller |99 on the casing section 4 is caused to roll on the cam-face 59V on the actuating lever 'I whereby the latter and the stapling arm 39, which is resiliently held in spaced relation thereto by the spring 5I, are rocked downwardly as a unit toward the anvil I1.v Due to the relatively short leverage oi the arm 93 the igorward end of the work-support 9| moves upwardly faster than the forward end of the stapling arm 30 swings downwardly, and the two parts continue to move toward each other until they engage and grip the work W therebetween, see Figs.

7 and 1G. The work-support 9| continues to be rocked on its pivot 31 until the arcuate portion of the arm 93 is concentric with the arc oi' movement of the roller 98 about the pivot 5, the roller 98 thereafter rolling on the arm 93 and holding tra-iorward end of the work-support raised ano the work suspended thereon.

It has been stated that the work-support 9| is constructed of resilient material and due to its ability to yield provision is made for variations in the thickness of the work. As the worksupport 9| offers greater resistance to yielding than the spring 5I, continued movement of the casing section 4 acts to rock the lever 6I downwardly about its pivot-pin 64 toward the stapling arm 30. The forward end of the lever 6I being engaged with the staple-driver 60 the movement of the lever causes the driver to be actuated through a driving stroke. A staple S advanced along the core 35 of the stapling or magazine 'arm 36 into the throat 53 by the staple-pusher I8 is engaged by the lower edge of the stapledriver 60 and driven through the work as it is held suspended above the anvil I1 in the manner illustrated in Figs. 8 and 11. As the staple S is thus driven through the work kits legs are guided and held against lateral distortion by the terminal edges of the inwardly-bent ends 42 of the side walls 33 of the stapling arm 30.

After the staple S has been driven through the work continued application of the pressure on the casing sections 3 and 4 causes the worksupport 9| to yield so that the stapling arm 30 will be rocked downwardly toward theanvil I1. As the stapling arm 30 moves toward the anvil |1 the forward end of the work-support 9| enters the slot I9 therein and the ends of the staple legs engage the slots or grooves I8 in the anvil which act to spread them outwardly away from each other as indicated in Figs. 11 and 12. Insteadof the legs Z of the staple S being curled or bent upwardly to form a clinch they are bent sharply at points adjacent the under side of the work and extended outwardly in aV plane coincident with the under side of the work. As a result, the bent legs extend parallel to the crossbar of the staple to form a flat pin-stitch which may be readily withdrawn by bending or slightly folding the work and pushing out the staple.

Aftereach stapling operation the casing sections 3 and 4 are released and automatically returned to their inoperative position. The spring 12 connected between the lever 6I and the bracket 14- onf the casing section 4 rocks the stapling arm 30 about its pivot 31 to the position shown inv Fig. 8, which movement is augmented by the tensioned staple-support 9|. Meanwhile, the spring 5| rocks the lever 6I with respect to ,the stapling arm 30 to the position illustrated in Fig. 7, the upward movement of the lever 6I being limited by the engagement of its rails 63 with the outwardly-directed lugs 1I on the wings 4I". As the stapling arm 3|] and actuating lever 6I are rocked about the pivot 31 the casing section 4 is rocked about its pivot 5 by the engagement of its roller |00 with the cam 68 on the lever 6 I. The engagement of the top of the wings 4I on the stapling arm 39 with the stop 16 limits the return movement of the arm., while the engagement of the rearward and bottom portion of the casing section 4 with the flange 8 on the casing section 3 limits its movement as indicated in Fig. l. At the end of the upward movement of the casing section 4,.the roller 98 moves out of engagement with the arm 93 to-release the work-support 9|. The leaf-spring 95 then rocks the forward end of the work-support 9| into its inoperative position within the recess or slot I9 in the anvil I1. The staple-driver 6l) being raised above the magazine-core 35 permits'a staple S to be advanced into the throat 53 to a position beneath the driver bythe action of the pusher 18. The pusher 18 is adapted to advance the u staples in the magazine until they are com'- pletely exhausted, the pusher moving forwardly with the ear 83 passing between the spaced sides of the staple-retainer 85 until it engages the driver 50, at: which time the last staple in the magazine is positioned in the throat. A staple S having been advanced to a position beneath the end of the driver 60 the implement is then ready for another staple-applying operation which may be performed in the same manner as above eX- plained.

After thev supply of staples S in the magazine has become exhausted, or if for any other reason it becomes necessary to open the end of the stapling arm 30, the gate is slid upwardly against the action of the spring 5I to disengage its notches 49 from the lugs 50 and then rocked on its pivot-pin 45. When the'fgate 45 is opened, as indicated in Fig. 13, the staple-driver 5l! is released at the front which permits the spring 88 to rock the staple-retainer 85 to engage its eccentrically curved edge 81 with any staples remaining'in the magazine. Ihe staples are thus prevented from. being ejected from the magazine by the staple-pusher 18 under the tension of the elastic cord 80.

When the supply of staples is completely exhausted and the gate 46 opened the staple-pusher 18 is prevented from movement beyond the end of the stapling arm. 30 by the engagement of its laterally-extending ears 84 with the rearward edges of the wings 4I. A new supply of staples, preferably in the form of a stick, may be inserted in the magazine by sliding them onto the core 35 and Yunder the curved end 81 of the stapleretainer B5 which yields to permit the staples to pass' thereby. After a rell of staples has been'inserted in the stapling or magazine arm 30 the gate 46 is closed which causes the stapledriver to again engage the crossbar 90 of the staple-retainer 85 torock it to its inoperative position illustrated in Fig. 7. The gate 46 is then resiliently held closed and latched in place by the spring 5| acting on lits pivot-pin 45.

It will beobserved from the foregoing that the present invention provides a novel construction and arrangement of elements in a stapling device for gripping and holding the work away from the anvil while the staples are driven therethrough. It will also be observed that the implement provides for bending the legs of the driven staple after it has been driven through the work to form a at pin-stitch which may be readily removed without damage to the work. It will still further be observed that the invention provides a compact, easily-operated implement which is positive and efficient in operation to perform its intended function.

While the device is herein described and illustrated as embodied in a preferred from vof construction, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of its parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

l. In a device vof the type indicated, fastenerapplying mechanism, a relatively stationary anvil for clinching the fasteners in the work, a work-support independent of the anvil and normally positioned in spaced relation to the fastener-applying mechanism, said work-support being mounted on a xed pivot for movement away from the vanvil towardj the fastener-applying mechanism to grip the work thereagainst and hold it suspended above the anvil, and means foractuating the work-support to move it toward the fastener-applying mechanism.

, 2. In a device ofthe type indicated, fastenerapplying means, an anvil for clinching the fasteners in the work, a work-support independent of the anvil, said work-support being mounted on a fixed pivot to adapt it to rock away from the anvil toward the fastener-applying means to grip the work against the latter and hold it in spaced relation to the anvil, and. means for rocking the work-support to grip and hold the Work.

3. In a device of the type indicated, a stationary anvil, fastener-applying means movable toward and away from the anvil, a work-support independent of the anvil, said work-support being mounted on a fixed pivot to rock away from the anvil toward the fastener-applying means, and means engaging the work-support to rock it on its pivot toward the fastener-applying means to grip the work thereagainst and hold it suspended above the anvil.

4. In a device of the type indicated, a stationary anvil, fastener-applying mechanism movable toward and away from the anvil, means for operating the fastener-applying mechanism to apply the fasteners to the work, and a work-support independent of the anvil and mounted on a fixed pivot to adapt it to be rocked between the anvil and fastener-applying mechanism, said work-support being actuated by the means for operating the fastener-applying mechanism to rock it toward the latter to grip the work thereagainst and hold it suspended above the anvil. 5. In a device of the type indicated, a casing having an anvil thereon, means mounted in the casing for movement toward'and away from the anvil to clinch a driven fastener, a work-support independent of the anvil and normally held in spaced relation to the fastener-applying means while being movable tofastener-applying Ward the latter to grip the work. therebetween, I

and means operative to actuate the work-support to grip the work and to then actuate the fastenerapplying means to apply a fastener in succession.

6. In a device of the type indicated, a stationary anvil, fastener-applying means including a driver movable toward the anvil, a work-support independent of the anvil and normally positioned in spaced relation to the fastener-applying means, said work-support being mounted on a xed pivot to adapt it to rock away from the anvil toward the fastener-applying means to grip the work thereagainst and hold it suspended above the anvil, and operating means for first rocking the work-support toward the fastenerapplying means to gripI the work and thereafter apply a fastener, said operating means then acting to move the fastener-applying means and work-support toward the anvil to clinch the legs of the fastener to form a stitch.

'7. In a fastener-applying implement, the combination of a compressible casing comprising com` plementary sections pivoted together and arranged to telescope one within the other, fastenerapplying means enclosed within the casing. a work-support mounted on the casing andmovable toward the fastener-applying means to grip the work therebetween, and means operative by compressing the casing to actuate the work-support to grip the work and operate the fastener-applying means.

8. In a device of the type indicated, the combination of a relatively stationary anvil, fastenerapplying means, a pivoted lever for actuating the fastener-applying means, a work-support inde- Bfr pendent of the anvil and normally spaced from the fastener-applying means, said work-support being movable toward the fastener-applying means to grip the work therebetween, manually operable means overlying the actuating lever and work-support, and means on said manually-operable means for operating the work-support and the actuating lever for the fastener-applying means in succession, said fastener-applying means being movable toward the anvil to clinch a driven fastener.

9. In a device oi the type indicated, the combination of fastener-applying means, a pivoted lever for actuating the fastener-applying means, a work-support pivoted intermediate its ends and having an arm at one end for rocking its opposite end toward the fastener-applying' means to grip the work therebetween, manually-operable means movable With respect to the lever and arm on the work-support, and rollers on the manually-operable means, one of said rollers engaging the arm to operate the work-support and the other roller engaging the lever to operate the astener-applying means.

10. In a machine of the type indicated, a frame, an anvil on the frame, fastener-applyingmeans on the frame movable toward and awa-y from the anvil, a work-support normally held in spaced relation to the fastener-applying means while movable toward the latter to grip the wo-rk therebetween, and a common means for successively operating the work-support and fastener-applying means to iirst move the work-support toward the fastener-applying means to grip the work and hold it suspended above the anvil and then apply a fastener, said operating means thereafter acting to move the fastener-applying means toward the anvil to bend the legs of the fastener to form a stitch.

11. In a machine of the type indicated, a frame, an anvil on the frame having means for bending the legs of a staple to form a stitch, a stapling arm pivotally mounted at one end on the frame to adapt its opposite end for movement toward the anvil, staple-driving means on the arm, a work-support pivotally mounted on the frame for movement toward the stapling arm to grip the work thereagainst, and means operative to actuate the work-support to move it toward the staple-driving means and lto thereafter actuate the staple-driving means to drive a staple through the work while it is held away from the anvil, said stapling arm being rocked about its pivot to cause the legs of the staple to be bent on the anvil.

12. In a machine of the type indicated, a frame, an anvil on the frame having means for bending the legs of a staple to form a stitch, a stapling arm pivoted to the frame, a stapledriver carried by the arm, a resilient work-support pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the frame, and an operating member engageable with one end of the work-support to rock its opposite end toward the stapling arm to grip and hold the work suspended and connected to thereafter operate the staple-driver to drive a staple through the work, said work-support being adapted to yield after the staple has been driven to permit the stapling arm to be rocked to engage the legs of the staple with the anvil and cause them to be bent.

13. In a fastener-applying implement, the combination of a compressible casing comprising two complementary sections arranged to move one with respect to the other, an anvil on the Casing,

fastener-applying means mounted in the casing for movement toward the anvil, a work-support mounted in the casing for movement toward the fastener-applying means to grip the work and hold it spaced from the anvil, and means operative by compressing the casing sections to actuate the work-support to move it toward the fastenerapplying means to grip the work and to thereafter operate the fastener-applying means Vto apply a fastener to the work, said fastener-applying means and work-support being movable toward the anvil after the fastener is driven to bend its legs to form a stitch.

14. In a device of theV type indicated, a frame, an anvil on the frame having a recess, means on said anvil for 'bending the legs of a staple, staple-applying means mounted on said frame for movement toward the anvil, a work-support mounted on the frame and normally positioned in the recess in the anvil, and manually-operative means for moving the work-support toward the staple-applying means to grip and hold the work away from the anvil and operating the staple-applying means to apply a staple, said operating means thereafter acting to rock the stapling arm toward the anvil to bend -the legs of the staple.

l5. In a device of the type indicated, a frame', a stapling arm pivotally mounted on the frame, a staple-driver on the arm, an actuating lever pivoted to `the arm at one end and connected to the staple-driver at its opposite end, said lever having `a cam-face intermediate its ends, a worksupport pivotally mounted'on the frame and having an arm at one end, anda manually-operative lever pivotally connected to `the frame and having rollers for engaging theV cam on the lever and the arm on the work-support to actuate said lever and support.

16. In a fastener-applying implement, `the combination of a-compressible casing comprising complementary 'sections pivoted together and arranged to telescope one within the other, stapleapplying means mounted in the casing, a worksupport in the casing pivotally mounted intermediate its ends, one of the ends of said worksupport having an arcuately-shaped a-rm with its extremity curved reversely with respect to its arcuate portion, a roller carried by one of the casing sections for engaging the arm on the worksupport to rock the latter, and al second roller engaging the staple-applying means to actuate Vthe latter.

1'7. In a fastener-applying implement, a frame, staple-applying means pivotally mounted on the frame, a work-support pivotally mounted on the frame on an axis common to the pivotal axis of the staple-apply-ing means for movexggnt toward the latter, and a lever on the frame operative to move the work-support and staple-applying means toward each other and to then actuate the latter to apply a staple to the work.

18. In a fastener-applying implement, a magazine arm comprising an outer channel-shaped casing, a core for staples nested within the outer casing, the side walls of the outer casing being extended beyond the end of the inner core and bent inwardly to position their ends in spacedapart parallel planes, and a pivoted gate enclosing the end of the magazine arm and cooperating with the end of the inner core member and the ends of the inwardly-bent side walls to form a throat, said ends of the inwardly-bent side walls forming lateral guides for the' legs of a staple.

19. In a staple-applying implement, a magazine, a gate pivotally mounted on the magazine for opening or closing its end, a staple-pusher for feeding the staples along the magazine, and a self-energizing staple-retainer pivotally mounted above the magazine and having an arcuate edge so arranged as to adapt it to engage the staples in the magazine, said staple-retainer being pivoted eocentrically of its arcuate edge whereby the engagement of said edge with the staples will tend to rock the staple-retainer to Wedge it between its pivot and the staples, said gate acting When closed to rock the staple-retainer to inoperative position with its arcuate edge free from engagement with the staples.

JOHN F. CAVANAGH. 

